Obama to governors: Let's work together

2/24/13 8:07 PM EST

President Obama, hosting the nation's governors for dinner at the White House on Sunday, applauded the work they have done to guide states through some of the nation's toughest times and said he needs their help moving forward.

"I'm looking for good partners, because while nobody in this room sees eye to eye on everything, we know that when we work together -- Democrats and Republicans, north, south, east and west -- we can accomplish so much more than we can on our own," Obama said. "Whether it's helping our citizens rebuild from a horrific hurricane or a turbulent economic storm, we're stronger when we work together as a team."

On a lighter note, the president joked about campaigning in swing states in 2012.

"Last year, I got to see first hand some of the great work that our governors are helping to accomplish all across the country," he said. "Now, it's true that I got to see some accomplishments in some states more than others: Ohio, Iowa, Colorado, Virginia.

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Donovan Slack

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"Presidents always say that they want that kind of open debate, and Obama handles it better than most. But by assembling a team where all the top players are going in the same direction, he is perilously close to groupthink."